Cleaner



Sept 4, 1951 GQLLBACH 2,556,698

CLEANER Filed Feb. 9, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN V EN TOR. (/0 sap/1 G04 4 5pc MM M P 4, 1951 J. GOLLBACH 2,566,608

CLEANER Filed Feb. 9, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN V EN TOR. Jose-P 69 u. aha/1 EBWMMM WM Abram/v5 Patented Sept. 4, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CLEANER Joseph Gollbach, Sacramento, Calif.

Application February 9, 1948, Serial No. 7,255

3 Claims.

-This invention relates to a cleaner for rice and the like in which there is chaff to be removed from the rice.

In the handling of rice from the time it is harvested until it is hulled and ready for the market, the rice paddy or unhulled rice is usually passed through driers three times before the hulls are removed, and it is stored in large storage bins or tanks between drying steps.

The most common form of driers employ a pair of vertically extending spaced screens between which the rice paddy is positioned and progressivelyv withdrawn from the bottom end, while heated air is forced through the screens and paddy from one of the sides of the latter.

In such driers the presence of chaff in the paddy substantially decreases the drying efiiciency of the drier. The more chaff that can be removed before the paddy passes into the driers, the more efficiency will be had in the drying operation.

One of the main objects of the present invention is the provision of a simple, economical, compact cleaner adapted to be positioned over a conventional rice drier and adapted to efficiently remove the chaff from the paddy while permitting the paddy and water grass seed to pass into the drier.

The compact feature of the present invention is important in that the driers are usually quite high and a tall and bulky cleaner would not be desirable nor particularly practical if positioned on top of a drier.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a cleaner that is hi hly efficient in removing chafi from rice paddies without mate- V rially slowing up the feed of the cleaned paddy into the drier.

Other objects and advantages will appear in the detailed description and in the drawings.

In the drawings Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of 'the cleaner. v

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary enlarged end elevational View of a portion of one end of the cleaner as seen from line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a reduced size fragmentary sectional view taken along line 44 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary side elevational view from the same side of the cleaner as Fig. 1 except that the near side is partially broken away and the screw conveyor is indicated.

Fig. 6 is a top plan view of the cleaner.

In detail, the cleaner preferably comprises a horizontally elongated housing having a top wall I and opposed elongated side walls 3, 4 (Fig. 2). Spaced between side walls 3, 4 and extending parallel therewith is a wall 5 and spaced between walls 4, 5 and parallel therewith is a wall 6. The walls 3, 5 define opposed sides of a feed compartment I while the walls 4, 6 define opposed sides of a suction compartment 8.

The opposite end walls of the above housing are designated 9, I0 and form the end walls for compartments 1, 8 and for the passageway II that is between walls 5, 6. This passageway is for air, as will later be described more in detail.

The wall 3 is not rigidly secured to end walls 9, I0 but is hingedly supported by hinge I2 for swinging from its upper edge about the hinge pivot which is adjacent top wall I.

The wall 3 is formed with an inwardly inclined intermediate portion l3 that extends toward the center of the housing and a lowermost portion I I4 in downward continuation of the portion I3 extends slantingly outwardly.

The wall 5 has a lowermost portion I5 that slants toward the portion I3, and this portion I5 has about the same degree of slant as the portion I3, only in the opposite direction, and the upper edge of portion I 5 is at the same level about as the upper edge of portion I3. The lower edges of the oppositely inwardly inclined portions I3, I5 almost meet in a plane about centrally between walls 3, 5.

Below the portion I5 is a slanted wall I6 that extends between end walls 9, I 0 and that is parallel with portion I5. This wall I6 has a downward continuation I! that extends slantingly below the space I8 between the lower edges of the portions I3, I5, which lower edges define the o posite edges of an outlet from the compartment I. Said portions I3, I5 are actually a trough-like bottom in said compartment 1 and the outlet I8 constitutes an elongated variable width slot in said bottom inasmuch as the side 3 can swing toward and away from the side.

As above stated, the downward extension I! extends below the outlet l8 and said extension is about parallel with and in opposed relation to the portion I4 that extends downwardly from portion I3 of wall 3.

The space between opposed portions I5, I6, and the space 20 between portions I4, I! constitute continuations of the air passageway I I, and the space 20 is also virutally a downward extension of the outlet I8 since rice discharged pass downwardly through passageway 20 for dis- 3 charge into the drier (not shown) below the cleaner housing.

Vertical ribs 2| may be secured in the re-entrant outer sides of portions I3, I4 adjacent the ends of said portions (Figs. 1, 2) and horizontal bars 22 carrying weights 23 adjustably positioned on said bars are secured to said ribs. These weights tend to hold the side wall 3 in a position in whichthelower. edg of portion. I3 is relatively close to the lower edgeof the portion i5 on side" 5. Th Weights may be adjusted so that the outlet I8 is virtually closed when no rice or material.

is within the compartment 1.

A horizontally extending screw 25 extends overt outlet I8, its central shaft beingjournalled in end walls 9, I0. Rice is fed into compartment 7 through an inlet 26 (Fig. 6) in. top wallI: adja' cent one end of the compartment I, and the rotation of th screw 25 will move the rice along the outlet for discharge therethrough, the said rice falling in? a. curtain or: sheet? on portion Id! Where" it' rebounds and. then: falls: into? the drier.

Th weights 23 are adjusted to permit: relief of' any excess pressure: in the." compartment" 7;.

Along the upperf'ed'ge of Wall 5 andijust below topwall l' is a horizontally elongated air. inlet opening; 3il'fi'om passageway IEI into thesuotionf compartment 8. Agateior'plate 3I*istsecured*at:

its upper edge to' a revolyable. pivot 32? that is journalled at its ends in. walls 91 Ill. Acranlr arm 33 (Fig; 39' at one end' outwardly of wall 9' per mitsrswinging: of: plate 31 fromv a vertica'l'aposition'. closing: inlet 30- into? the" compartment 8 and to awsubstantially horizontal? positionrin which the inlet is substantially fully open.

Theouterend of 'c'rank. 33 may carry a: wing nut 34 for releasably securing the. end of thecrank ini arcuateslot- 35F'at any angular; position of: said; arm and: plate: 3|; means, may, of course, be-employed:for'releasably lockingplate 3-I:'in.adjustedposition.

The said inlet 3!;- extendssubstantially from Wall' 9 to wall Ifi'so'that-suction is effective within the passageway II: from end. to end thereof upon suction being createdin. compartment 8 Asuctionblow-er 31: is positioned alongside W-all' 4 with its central annular suction: inletvS'G open-- ing 'into wall 4 aboutcentrally between the ends Any other suitable:

of the.- latter and spacedbelow top wall t The" outlet 3 9.-ofthis blower may-exhaust to the atmos-- phere or to a stack or collector as. desired.

The bot-tom wall of compartment 8- extends slantingly downwardly fromend walls 9; 511- re' spectively to meet-ing relation; along the lower. edge of. the blower inlet-.33: Thus movement. ofany material on said bottom to the. blowerinlet is-facil'itated.

A.- motor 41 on. an extension of top I the. blower and. the. screw, a belt 43 extending. fromv a pulley onthe motor shaf-t to -a pulley on the blower shaftwhile a belt- 44 may extend from a pulleyon the. blower shaft to. a pulley. on the driving shaft of. a reduction gear box 45.. The slow driven shaft from saidboxmay beconnectsupported on a bracket 42 or ed by a belt '36 with. apulley on the-screwshaft. A substantially air tight lid- 47 may cover an:

opening 48 in top I to enableraccessto th air passageway and. to compartment. 8 and to. the

through outlet I8 and-into the influence of theair. suction in passageway Ht.

may drive" both- The gate BI is so adjusted relative to the volume of flow of paddy that substantially all of the chafi will be drawn upwardly into the suction compartment for discharge from the blower discharge side, while the rice paddy and Water grass seed will fall into the drier.

Some of the chafi may tend to be carried down by the paddy but upon the rice rebounding off the portion. I I thislchafif will beloosened or separated from the rice for being drawn; into the-suction chamber.

While all of the chaff may not be removed from the rice paddy the first time it goes through the cleaner, as a rule all of the chaff is removed by the time the rice passes through the cleaner for the third time. Of course any other materials mixed'with the rice paddy having about the same specific gravity as the chaff will be drawn into the'suction' compartment. for discharge.

I claim:

1 A" cleaner'for rice and the like comprisi-hg? a housing enclosing-a horizontally elongated" air suction compartment and a horizontally elon' gated feed compart'mentin sideb'y siderelationship, an outlet in the bottom of said feed com partment extending substantiall'y'th'e full length} thereof and a similarly extending inlet openihg' into the upper portion of said" air"sucti0n= com partment, an air'passageway between said sue) tion compartment and said feed" compartment communicating between. said outletand said? inlet, means for creat'ing'a suction within said suc tion chamber, and said passageway having a; downward extension continuing downwardl'y past said outlet-for receiving a supply of all: therethrough, said extension having an open lower end for discharge of materialnot drawn into said suction chamber, a horizontally ex g tending screw conveyor in= said feed chanih'erex--' tending over saidoutletfor' moving rice-todlf ferent points along said outlet, th'e lower portion of one of'theside walls of said"feedcompartment. being one side ofsaid outlet, and'means'hingedly" supporting said portion for swinging t'owardand" away from the opposite side of said outlet" for varying the size of the latter; and-means'securedi to said portion tending to constantly'urge' said; portion toward the said opposite side of said'inleif against the outwardpressure of material passing. through said outlet.

2. A cleaner for rice and the like comprising'a. housing enclosing a horizontally elongated air suction compartment and. a horizontally elongated feed compartment in side by side relation, ship, an outlet in the bottom of'saidfeedlcome partment extending substantially the fulllengthi thereof and a similarly extending inlet'opening. into the upper portion of. said. air. suctionicemapartment, an air passageway between: said. sue tion. compartment and said. feed compartment communicating between said outlet and saidinlet, means for creatinga suction withinsaid S119;- tion chamber, and said passageway havingar downward, extension continuing. downwardly past said. outlet. for. receiving. a supply of..airtherethrough, said extension having an.- open lowen end. for discharge. of. materialnotdrawn into said suction chamber, said means-implicating;- said-suctionbeing a rotary suction blower having its. central" air inlet disposed at at point about centrally between. the endsof. said suction come partment, saidsuction compar-t-ment having aw bottom wall extending slantingly upwardlyfrom saidv central air inlet tosaid: opposite ends-of said S compartment to facilitate downward movement of material on said bottom wall to said central air inlet.

3. A cleaner for rice and the like comprising a housing enclosing a horizontally elongated air suction compartment and a horizontally elongated feed compartment in side by side relationship, an outlet in the bottom of said feed compartment extending substantially the full length thereof and a similarly extending inlet opening into the upper portion of said air suction compartment, an air passageway between said suction compartment and said feed compartment communicating between said outlet and said inlet, means for creating a suction within said suction chamber, and said passageway having a downward extension continuing downwardly past said outlet for receiving a supply of air therethrough, said extension having an open lower end for discharge of material not drawn into said suction chamber, said means for creating said suction being a rotary suction blower having its central air inlet disposed at a point about centrally between the ends of said suction compartment, said suction compartment having a 2 bottom wall extending slantingly upwardly from said central air inlet to said opposite ends of said compartment to facilitate downward movement of material on said bottom wall to said central air inlet, means for adjustably controlling the air passing from said passageway into said suction compartment comprising a plate movable different distances to and from a position closing said inlet into said suction compartment, and means for releasably holding said plate in adjusted position.

JOSEPH GOLLBACH.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Re. 15,275 Mettler Jan. 24, 1922 485,845 Heine Nov. 8, 1892 520,653 Mober May 29, 1894 525,048 Holt Aug. 28, 1894 895,616 Burian Aug. 11, 1908 916,257 Behrend Mar. 23, 1909 1,511,789 Vilm Oct. 14, 1924 1,813,948 Palmer July 14, 1931 

